Tri-Service

Soldier Honoured With Cutler's Sword At Lord Mayor's Show

Soldiers and Officers from a variety of Regiments took part in the Lord Mayor's Parade, one of the longest and grandest processions in the world.

Joining soldiers on the three and a half mile route were 20 bands, 175 horses, hundreds of carriages, coaches and horses, and other vehicles including vintage cars, bathtubs, and tanks.

London's Bomb Disposal, 101 (City of London) Engineer Regiment, was also there to receive the Freedom of the City in recognition of the regiment's service and strong links to the city.

Fifty soldiers formed a Guard of Honour outside of Mansion House that was inspected by the Lord Mayor. The Commanding Officer of the Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hawkins, then received a ceremonial scroll from the Lord Mayor who has close ties with the Army Reserves.

Following this the Army personnel stepped off, leading the Lord Mayor’s Parade through the city streets. Music was be provided by the Band of the Corps of Royal Engineers and the Nottinghamshire Band of the Royal Engineers.

Traditionally, at the end of the City’s biggest procession the new Lord Mayor pays further recognition to the Armed Forces with the annual presentation of the Director of Infantry’s Cutlers’ Sword to the best drummer, flautist or bugler in the British Army’s infantry regiments.

This year the honour has gone to Corporal Daniel Lewis a Bugler in The Rifles.

He said: “Winning the Cutlers’ Sword is one of the many highlights of my career as it culminates not just my bugling achievements but also many of my soldiering abilities.”

The sword was presented by the Lord Mayor, at 2.45pm outside the Mansion House on his return trip from the Royal Courts of Justice. He was presented with the Cutlers’ Sword by the new Lord Mayor of London, The Right Honourable the Lord Mayor of the City of London Jeffrey Evans.

The Cutlers’ Company is one of the most ancient of the City of London livery companies and received its first Royal Charter from Henry V in 1416. Its function was to protect the interests of its members, all of whom produced and traded in knives, swords, and other implements with a cutting edge, to attend to their welfare, and to ensure that high standards of quality were maintained.